The 15th season of Interleague Play between the American League and National League gets under way this weekend, and you know what that means -- giant crowds, school's-out fun, traditional AL dominance, ideal weather, Albert Pujols' hot bat and eye-popping matchups.

I should note that of those six listed factors, interleague play only accounts for one, maybe two of them (AL dominance and arguably the crowds (though we'll see, this year)). And of course, they pimp Cubs at Red Sox as the marquee matchup, which traditionalists would at the very least find an interesting novelty.

But their next two interleague highlights are Astros at Blue Jays and Cardinals @ Orioles. Huh? THOSE are the two matchups you're shilling? (And according to my records, it's the Nationals who are at Baltimore this weekend; the Cardinals are playing in Kansas City, and don't go to Baltimore until next month.)

So let's see what IS on tap this weekend. Aside from the rivalry games (Reds @ Indians, Mets @ Yankees, Rays @ Marlins, and A's at Giants), there ain't much else. Rangers @ Phillies might be interesting. The Dodgers, playing at Comiskey Park: not so compelling.

And certainly not worth the tradeoff of these stupid two-game "series" we've had with the Brewers and Giants this week.

The appeal of interleague play, Leyland said, "has worn off for me. It was a brilliant idea to start with, but it has run its course."

He knows that higher-ups, such as his good friend Commissioner Bud Selig, won't want to hear it, but Leyland spoke his mind all the same.

"I'll probably get chewed out for (saying) it," he said, "but I think a lot of people feel the same way."

What prompted Leyland to rail against interleague play before it begins this season isn't the three-game series the Tigers will play in Pittsburgh this coming weekend. That's harmless enough.

"For three games, that's OK," he said.

But he takes issue with the back-to-back road series the Tigers will play in Colorado, then against the Los Angeles Dodgers next month.

Leyland said it's "ridiculous" and "totally unfair" for an American League club to have to play consecutive series in National League ballparks.

"And that you can quote me on," he said. "They ought to look into it." [...]

Leyland added: "It has run its course. I just don't like it. First of all, at some point we have to get baseball back to the same set of rules. I don't know why more people don't talk about it. No other sport plays different rules (regarding the DH).

"I don't care what they do. Whatever way they go is fine with me, but the rules should be the same."